Nabji - Korphu Trek | 14D

[Day 1]

PARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – Your first glimpse of Bhutan

• On arrival at the Paro International Airport you will be welcomed by your tour guide and driver. Check into your hotel and after a brief rest, start your magical experience of Bhutan by first visiting the Paro Rinpung Dzong(Fortress on heap of a jewel).
• Later visit National museum above Paro dzong.

Afternoon drive to Thimphu(capital city of Bhutan)

• Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and is one of the last few capital cities without traffic lights and the traffic still managed by traffic policemen. Thimphu is the most populated city with about 100,000 people and truly a combination of the ancient and the modern. While strictly maintaining the traditional style of architecture in modern building, there are also very old temples and numerous monasteries in and around the city, and few discotheques and Karaoke.
• The beautiful Memorial Chorten/stupa in town is another favorite with the tourists and a regular site for congregation of devout Buddhists circumambulating the Chorten from dawn till dusk. The main statue of the Buddha inside the Chorten is said to grant wishes for the earnest and honest hearted!
• Overnight in Thimphu.

[Day 2]

THIMPHU VALLEY EXCURSION

• Enjoy the panoramic view of the Thimphu valley from the site of the gigantic Lord Buddha, a 51 meter bronze Shakyamuni Buddha statue gilded in gold.
• Visit the Simply Bhutan Museum which is a living studio showcasing the age old culture and traditional heritage of Bhutan.
• Afternoon you can visit Bhutan Postal Museum you can write back home with your personalized stamp from the postal museum.
• In the evening visit the Tashichho Dzong/fortress of the Auspicious Religion and office of the Golden throne of the Dragon King of Bhutan.
• If you want to mingle with the Bhutanese people and jostle with local farmers amongst the aroma of organic fruits and vegetables, the Centenary Farmers Market is the place to be. Smiling tourists watch in awe as locals bargain with the vendors and you could even stock up on your organic fruits for the coming days.
• Stroll through the market places and the craft bazaar.
• Overnight in Thimphu

[Day 3]

THIMPHU-PUNAKHA-PHOBJIKHA VALLEY (6HRS)

• After breakfast check out of your hotel and drive for about three hours to Wangdue and Punakha valleys. En route stop over at the Dochulaa Pass (3150 meters) and enjoy the spectacular views of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. The 108 small stupas built over a small hill is also a beautiful sight.
• The road from the Pass winds down to the warm and fertile valleys and after a brief rest visits the Fertility Temple / Chime Lhakhang. It is a pleasant 30 minutes walk through mustard and paddy fields. Standing on a picturesque hilltop the Lhakhang is famous for its fertility wish grants to couples. Inside the walls of the Lhakhang are beautiful frescoes depicting the colorful life of Lama Drukpa Kuenley, the Divine Madman regarded for his crazy methods of teaching which included blessing women in the form of copulation!

Afternoon drive towards Phobjikha & Gangtey valley(3hrs)

• Today you drive for about 3 hours to the serene and beautiful valleys of Gangtey and Phobjika. Gangtey, Phobjika and the surrounding villages are located in one of the most beautiful glacial valleys of Bhutan and a favorite with tourists. The valleys are also home to the endangered and graceful Black Necked Cranes in the winter and you can see them in the marshes in the middle of the valley. In the summer the cranes fly to Tibet.
• Visit the Gangtey Monastery located atop a hill overlooking the valley. Gangtey Gonpa is an important Monastery of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism.
• Hike through the serene Gangtey Nature Trail for about an hour.
• Excursion of Gangtey, Phobjika and neighboring villages, stroll through the valley and visit few traditional houses.
• Overnight in Gangtey valley.

[Day 4]

PHOBJIKHA/GANGTEY VALLEY-TRONGSA (5HRS)

• The 5 hour drive from Gangtey to Trongsa valley is scenic via the Pelela Pass at 3420 meters and across quaint little highland villages of Sephu, Rukubjee, Chendebjee, Tangsibjee and many other small rural settlements along the way.
• The Stupa in Chendebjee is said to be a replica of the Boudanath Stupa of Nepal.
• At the Trongsa viewpoint, enjoy the view of the majestic Trongsa Dzong/Fortress of the Vanguard of Warriors and the neighboring villages.
• Visit the spectacular Trongsa Dzong and the National Museum located above the Dzong. The National Musuem is dedicated to the Wangchuck Dynasty, the Dragon Kings of Bhutan.
• Overnight in Trongsa.

[Day 5]

RIOTALA – NIMSHONG (Trek Starts)

Walking Distance: 6.5 km, 3-4 hours, 625m ascent 365m descent, campsite altitude 1170m

• From Wangduegang turn-off just north of Zhemgang, a farm road descends to the Mangde chhu, offering access to Nabjivalley.Depending on how far the road has reached, you might start walking in Matling (800m), or even Nimshong(1170m), which would do away this first day walking.
• Nimshong is a valley of about 60 households at 1320m. You will be welcomed into village with much song and dance,brfore being served dinner cooked by villagers.

[Day 6]

NIMSHONG - KORPHU

Walking Distance: 13-14.5 km, 6 hours, 200m ascent, campsite altitude range 1,350 m – 1,500 m.

• After a village tour of Nimshong, hike through lush broadleaf forest teeming with regional fauna, such as golden Langurs and Rufous-neckedhornbills, to make a final ascent to Korphu, a village of about 600 peoplepreached at 1500m. visit the village temples, housing the sacred relics of Pema Lingpa(Treasure discoverer). The community-run a campsite offering fine views of the valley.

[Day 7]

KORPHU - NABJI VILLAGE

Walking Distance: 13 km, 5-7 hours, 200m descent, campsite altitude 1,300 m.

• It’s a short and pleasant walk down to the river and up to expansive paddy fields of Nabji (1300m), giving you plenty of time to explore the village.
• Visit the temple here and historically important stone pillar commemorating an 8th century peace treaty negotiated by Guru Rinpoche and signed between king Sindhu of Bumthang and king Nauchhe (Big nose) from assam.
• In the village, you will also see rocky remains of blacksmith, believed to be connected to Pema Lingpa. The camp is located amid rice fields near the village.

[Day 8]

NABJI VILLAGE – KUDRA

Walking Distance: 13-14 km, 5-6 hours, 335m ascent, camp altitude 1635m.

• Today’s trek leaves Nabji at a spot marked by a holy tree, before passing through a dense forest of clippers, orchids and bamboo.
• The forest is supposedly a habitat of tigers and leopards, although sightings are rare. The campsite at Kudra (1635m)is smack in middle of the forest, with few Monpa households nearby.

[Day 9]

KUDRA – JANGBI

Walking Distance: 13-14 km, 6-7 hours, 265m descent, camp altitude range 1370m.

• Today’s trails is littered with fabulous evidence of Guru Rinpoche’s visit to region-footprints, dagger, hat, you name it.
• Lunch is at Phrumzur village (1400m), which has a temple from where you can take good views of the valley. From Phrumzur, its easy hike to Jangbi village (1370m), where you will pitch tent in a scenic spot overlooking the Mangde chhu valley.

[Day 10]

JANGBI - TONGTONGPHEY

Walking Distance: 8-9km, 3-4 hours, 640m ascent, 950m descent.

• After breaking camp, descent steeply to the bridge crossing Mangde chhu, before one last push to Tongtongphey (1060m), whereyou will be met by your tour vehicle and drive back to Trongsa.

[Day 11]

TRONGSA- PUNAKHA (7-8 HRS)

• After Breakfast you will be driving all the back to Punakha which is about 7-8hrs drive.
• On the way back you can enjoy your drive with the views of scenic mountains and nature.
• If you prefer to have packed hot lunch along, you could spot lots of beautiful places for lunch.
• Punakha valley was the old capital city of Bhutan and the Punakha Dzong meaning the fortress of Great Bliss, was built by in 1673 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (the first spiritual & political leader of Bhutan) to commemorate the final victory against numerous Tibetan invasions. Located on a piece of land between two rivers Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu (literally meaning male and female rivers), the Dzong is massive, huge and magnificent in all its architectural grandeur. Although ravaged by flood, fire and earthquakes many times, the Dzong was always rebuilt with its original pattern and design.
• The first King of modern Bhutan was crowned in Punakha Dzong. Important religious ceremonies are still held in the Dzong. The Royal Wedding ceremony on 13th October 2011 of the Fifth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to Jetsun Pema was conducted in Punakha Dzong.
• After visiting the Punakha Dzong/Fortress of Great Bliss, drive to the Nunnery and enjoy the spectacular views of Punakha and Wangdue valleys.
• Overnight in Punakha

[Day 12]

PUNAKHA-THIMPHU- PARO (4-5HRS)

• After an early breakfast drive for a 20 minutes up north and walk for about an hour to Khamsum Yulley Namgyel Chorten stupa. The walk is beautiful through the pine trees, the stupa is beautiful and so is the view from there. Enroute you will also be walking through a suspension bridge over the Puna Tsang Chhu – Punakha River.

Afternoon drive to Paro

• Stop at dochula pass for lunch/tea snacks.
• Overnight in Paro

[Day 13]

PARO VALLEY

TAKTSANG MONASTERY/TIGER’S NEST –The highlight of your holiday to Bhutan

• Your highlight of the tour and a day excursion to one of the most petrified sites in Bhutan, Taktsang Monastery / Tiger’s Nest which is about 3 hours uphill and 2 hours down. It is located around 900 meters above the Paro valley. In the 8th Century Guru Padmasambhava – the patron saint of Buddhism established the most sacred place in Bhutan and meditated with his consort Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal. It is believed that Guru flew on a female tigress in pursuit of a demon which he subdued at the current site of the Monastery.
• You can have your lunch, tea/snacks at the cafeteria midway.
• Before you drive back to your hotel visit the Kyichu Lhakhang/temple, one of the oldest temples built in the 7th Century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gyembo.
• Overnight in Paro

[Day 14]

DEPARTURE

• After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport where your guide and driver will bid you farewell and hope you had a pleasant holiday and hope to see you in Bhutan again.

TASHI DELEK